13 Games Launching Next Week: ‘Deus Ex’ and More

This summer has been a slow one for fans of big blockbuster games, but that’s changing now that fall is growing near. Last week saw the launch of the divisive game No Man’s Sky, and next week we get a couple of heavy-hitters, along with a number of smaller titles that just might pique your interest. There’s a little something for everyone in the games launching next week, whether you’re into cyberpunk dystopias, American football, or fighting games.

You can even get a taste of upcoming games like Titanfall 2 and Nioh, thanks to a couple of beta tests that will be open to anyone interested. So read on for everything you need about the games launching the week of August 22, 2016.

1. Deus Ex: Mankind Divided

In 2029, the cyberpunk future is a reality, but it’s not a future you’d probably want to live in. After some nasty business regarding the Illuminati and mechanically augmented humans, the Augs are being shunned by the fully biological folks. You play as Adam Jensen on a quest to take down the Illuminati and heal the fractures that divide humanity. This is a video game, though, so you do that by killing (or sneaking past) a whole lot of armed thugs.

Like its acclaimed predecessor, Mankind Divided is a shooter, a stealth game, and a role-playing game all rolled into one. And depending on your play style, you can tackle its challenges any way you see fit.

2. Madden NFL 17

Football season is upon us, which means the latest annual Madden NFL game is, too. If you haven’t played a Madden game before, now is as good a time to start as any, thanks to a robust tutorial system and top-of-the-line football simulation. This new installment comes with current rosters and a few added tweaks like a new practice squad, full-player editing, and an in-game ticker to keep you up to speed on the scores of real-life football games. Just watch out for that Madden curse.

3. Inside

Inside | Source: Playdead

Release date: August 23, 2016Platforms: PlayStation 4

Hey look, it’s that game we all thought was an Xbox One exclusive. The exclusivity window didn’t last very long, but that’s good news for PS4 owners looking for a puzzle platformer that’s both brilliant and deeply weird.

In this wordless game, you play as a boy on the run in a dark and dangerous world. You’ll encounter enemies like armed men and guard dogs you’ll have to figure out how to avoid rather than fight. And each section of the game is layered with environmental puzzles that take some creative thinking to work through. I was a big fan of Inside when it launched last month on Xbox One, so check it out if it sounds like your kind of thing.

4. Xbox One S – 1TB and 500GB bundles

Xbox One S | Source: Microsoft

Release date: August 23, 2016

In hardware news, two new configurations of Microsoft’s redesigned Xbox One launch on August 23. They sport a sleek white design that’s much more compact than the original Xbox One, as well as a slightly improved controller. While a 2TB version of the Xbox One S is already available for $400, one of these cheaper bundles may appeal to you more.

The 1TB bundle comes with Madden NFL 17 and costs $350. The 500GB bundle comes with Halo 5 and Halo: The Master Chief Collection and costs $300. Meanwhile, you can still buy the original tank-sized 500GB Xbox One for $250.

5. Nioh beta

The final version of this Dark Souls-like game won’t be out for a while, but you can play an early build for free between August 23 and September 6.

The developers already ran an open alpha test of the game back in April, and followed up with a questionnaire that let fans offer their insights and suggestions for how to make the game better. The developers have apparently taken the feedback to heart and are ready to give it another shot with a second downloadable demo. You can read our impressions of the alpha demo here.

6. Alone With You

Release date: August 23, 2016Platforms: PlayStation 4 and PS Vita

Billed as a “sci-fi romance adventure,” this unique game puts you in the shoes of the last survivor of a far-away space colony who has to find a way off the planet before it implodes. As you run missions to that effect, you’ll learn about the other colonists and interact with an AI companion. Look for reviews if you enjoy narrative-driven games.

7. Hue

In this indie puzzle platformer, you make your way through hazardous terrain by altering the color of the background to reveal hidden objects and avoid obstacles. If the trailer is any indication, it looks like the developers riff on that color-based gameplay mechanic in a lot of smart ways.

8. Worms W.M.D.

The ever-enduring Worms series centers around militant worms who fling bullets and bombs at one another in a mad bid for domination. This installment features tie-ins with indie games like Rocket League and Orcs Must Die, and introduces new weapons, a crafting mechanic, and vehicles.

9. King of Fighters XIV

Release date: August 23, 2016Platforms: PlayStation 4

Street Fighter may have only just reached the fifth installment of its main series, but King of Fighters is already up to 14. This is the first one rendered in full 3D, and of its 50 characters, 19 of them are brand new to the series. Fighting game fans, take a look at the trailer above.

10. Metrico+

Release date: August 23, 2016Platforms: PlayStation 4

You’d think they’d run out of new gameplay mechanics to make platformers distinct from one another at some point. That day is not today. Metrico+ is a revamped version of a very singular PS Vita game. Basically, the environment reacts to your actions, so how you walk, run, and jump affects which way the platforms move. It might take some trial and error, but eventually you’ll figure out how to puzzle your way through. The game didn’t grab me when I played it on Vita, but maybe the PS4 version will fare better. Watch the trailer to see what it’s like in action.

11. Valley

The hook behind this first-person game is your L.E.A.F. suit, which is basically a mechanical exoskeleton that gives you crazy agility to make you run fast and make enormous leaps. You also have some vague power over the life and death of the animals in the forested valley you’re exploring. I’m not sure what to make of this one, but the trailer makes moving around look pretty fun.

12. N++

Release date: August 25, 2016Platforms: PC

What do you have left when you peel nearly everything off the bones of a side-scrolling platformer? You have something like N++, the third installment in a series of hyper-challenging, impossible-to-put-down games.

The graphics may be minimal, but the gameplay is more than functional. You play as a graceful, nimble ninja who has to make it from point A to point B without being killed by the enemies, obstacles, and devious traps in between. If you can collect all the coins in each level, so much the better.

This sequel has a multiplayer mode as well as a level editor to keep you coming back long after you’ve beaten the (literally) thousands of stages that ship with the game.

13. Titanfall 2 beta

Release date: August 26 – 28Platforms: PlayStation 4 and Xbox One

A shooter based on elite Pilots and their trusty robotic Titans, this sequel promises to deliver parkour action along with a hefty dose of high-powered artillery. What’s not to love? While the developers are calling this a “multiplayer technical test,” it’s really just a beta.

Unfortunately for PC gamers, this one’s only coming to consoles. Why? According to developer Respawn, they’re still working on supporting some hardware configurations and they don’t want data miners to find spoilers for the single-player campaign.